BUNGLE BUNGLES
The Bungle Bungles are a relative
recent tourist discovery. The good thing about that is the tourism
exploitation factor has been prevented. The only way to visit on foot,
is via a long four wheel drive and tightly controlled walk/camping
areas. A very different scenario when compared to the early tourist
regime at Ayres Rock.

The distinctive
beehive-shaped towers are made up of sandstones and conglomerates
(rocks composed mainly of pebbles and boulders and cemented together
by finer material). These sedimentary formations were deposited into
the Ord Basin 375 to 350 million years ago, when active faults were
altering the landscape. The combined effects of wind from the Tanami
Desert and rainfall over millions of years shaped the domes.
A 7 km diameter circular
topographic feature is clearly visible on satellite images of the
Bungle Bungle Range (Google Maps image).
We initially intended to fly over from
Turtle Creek (the closest air tourism operator), but overnight heavy
rain closed the air strip.
We opted for the Halls Creek trip
given the clear weather had prevailed.
Here is a collection of photos from
our fly over at 3 30 pm. The colours are soft and we were lucky we had
sunlight coinciding with our arrival at Bungles.
Expensive as it is, from the air you
really do get the picture.
Given the very early sunsets (5.30
pm), try and have your flight concluded by 3.30 at the latest.
     
     
Heritage diary 
 |